Tuesday

Avon couple own Cruise Planners franchise and run it from their home part time.

It was while on a cruise to Granada that Avon residents Sondra and Nick Flannery hiked through the rainforest to the Seven Sisters waterfall – where he proposed to her.

“It was only fitting that we got married on the next cruise,” Sondra Flannery said.

It was also fitting that when the couple decided to open a franchise business, they turned to Cruise Planners/American Express, which is headquartered in Coral Springs, Fla. There are currently more than 800 franchisees nationwide.

Sondra Flannery, 28, is currently a paralegal at Sloan and Walsh in Boston, and Nick Flannery, 32, is an automation engineer for Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research in Cambridge. In January, the two began thinking of starting up a side business.

“We were talking about taking our next cruise, (but instead) we thought of something that would be more of an investment for the future,” Sondra Flannery said. “So we decided to take our vacation money and use it toward purchasing the franchise.”

The couple wanted the support and established reputation that a franchise would provide. They now dedicate 30 to 40 hours a week to their travel agency, which they started in April and run out of their Avon home.

“When people think of cruising, I think they think of the big ocean Princess of the Seas, but there are a lot of different options with cruises,” Sondra Flannery said. “River cruises are a good way for people to see the culture more in-depth. You’re stopping in ports you wouldn’t normally see on a big ship. You’re going into the country rather than staying on the shoreline.”

As Cruise Planners, the Flannerys work with more than 15 cruise companies and an extensive list of resorts and tour guides.

“Right now we’re focusing on building a good client base, getting our name out there and letting people know we’re in the area,” Sondra Flannery said.

So far, they have booked vacations for about two dozen clients. Profits are based on commission, and the Flannerys estimate it will take three to five years before they see a return on their investment.

Starting a new business venture in a down economy didn’t faze them, the couple said.

“It’s something that actually made me more comfortable,” Nick Flannery said. “It gives us more time to learn and not get so overwhelmed. At least now, when business does get better, we’ll be prepared for it.”

As the business grows, the Flannerys may consider specializing in destination weddings and honeymoons.

“It’s doing something we like, learning about geography and travel,” Sondra Flannery said. “And it’s something that we’ll hopefully see a return on in the future.”

Ashlee Fairey may be reached at afairey@ledger.com.

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